The July Declaration was made on Tuesday, which was termed as aspirations of the people underlying the student-people uprising.
It was stated that the people expressed their desire that the declaration would feature in the reformed constitution to be framed following the next national election.
Interim government chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus unveiled the declaration, marking a key step towards granting state and constitutional recognition to the 2024 July uprising that led to the ouster of the country鈥檚 long-standing autocratic regime led by Sheikh Hasina.
The chief adviser read out the declaration at the South Plaza of Jatiya Sangsad in the capital, with senior leaders of major political parties present on the occasion.
The July Declaration recounted how the anti-discrimination student movement turned into a mass uprising following state violence, resulting in nearly a thousand deaths.
The declaration stated that the people of Bangladesh expressed their desire to recognise the martyrs of the July uprising as national heroes and to provide necessary legal protection to the students and citizens who participated in the movement.
鈥�. . . the people of Bangladesh express their desire that the student-people uprising of 2024 will get a proper state and constitutional recognition and that the July Declaration will feature in the schedule of the reformed constitution as framed by the government formed through the next national election,鈥� it said.
The declaration presented a comprehensive political statement charting Bangladesh鈥檚 long history of struggles for democracy and condemning the 16-year rule of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina as fascist, repressive and corrupt.
Beginning with references to the 1971 Liberation War and subsequent efforts to establish a democratic state, the declaration accused the post-independence Awami League government of failing to uphold the principles of independence.
The declaration stated that the introduction of the one-party BAKSAL ruling system in 1975 suppressed democracy, freedom of expression, and judicial independence, which eventually triggered public resistance and led to the restoration of multi-party democracy.
It also noted that although parliamentary democracy was restored in the country through the 1990 mass uprising against a military dictatorship, the democratic trajectory was again disrupted by internal and external conspiracies 鈥� particularly the events of January 11, 2007 鈥� popularly called as 1/11, which enabled Sheikh Hasina鈥檚 return to power and initiated a 16-year period of authoritarian rule.
The declaration accused the AL government, especially under Sheikh Hasina, of destroying democratic institutions, holding fake elections, and committing widespread corruption and human rights violations over the 16 years.
The declaration highlighted that a student protest against quota-based public service recruitment escalated into a nationwide uprising following violent state crackdowns on the protesters.
Supported broadly by society and backed by the armed forces of the country, the movement forced Sheikh Hasina to step down and flee the country on 5 August 2024, the document read.
It also mentioned the formation of the current interim government under Professor Yunus, following constitutional guidelines.
The July Declaration highlighted the people鈥檚 aspirations for a democratic, just, and corruption-free Bangladesh, saying that the need for good governance, fair elections, rule of law, and comprehensive democratic reforms across all state and constitutional institutions.
It also expressed the people鈥檚 desire for the prosecution of crimes committed during the 16-year rule of the Awami League government, including oppression, violence, enforced disappearances, murder, and crimes against humanity during the anti-fascist movement and the July 2024 uprising.
The declaration also asserted that the uprising was a legitimate and internationally recognised expression of the people鈥檚 sovereign will.
鈥楾his document of declaration is written to reflect the aspirations of the people of Bangladesh at the event of the victory in the mass uprising of August 5, 2024,鈥� the chief adviser read out.
While Professor Yunus was reading out the July Declaration, leaders from various political parties stood beside him in a show of unity.
Among them were Bangladesh Nationalist Party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Jamaat-e-Islami secretary general Mia Golam Parwar, National Citizen Party convener Nahid Islam, Islami Andolan Bangladesh amir Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim, AB Party chairman Mojibur Rahman, Jatiya Ganafront coordinator Tipu Biswas, Nagarik Oikya president Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Ganosamhati Andolan chief coordinator Zonayed Saki, Gono Odhikar Parishad president Nurul Haque, Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh secretary general Sajidur Rahman and mass uprising martyred Mahfuzur Rahman Saikat鈥檚 sister Sabrina Afroze Sabonti.
Chief of Army Staff General Waker-Uz-Zaman, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral M Nazmul Hassan, and Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan also attended the event.
Meanwhile, to mark July Uprising Day, the Ministry of Cultural Affairs organised a day-long cultural programme on Manik Mia Avenue on Tuesday.
Titled 鈥楥elebrating July 36,鈥� the event began at 11:00 am with performances by various musical groups.
At 2:25pm, a special moment was observed to commemorate the fall of fascism, followed by performances by several bands.
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Full text of July Declaration. Source: CA press wing.
